BRIDGE AND ROAD MATTERS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 3 May 1917, Page 2

BRIDGE AND ROAD MATTERS.

TO THE EDITOR SIR, —Seeing that the Town Board has decided to fence the approaches to the new bridge, would it not be wise to meet in conference with the member of the Mairetahi Riding, and arrange for a complete finish as far as is practical at present.' The public were told some time ago that the bridge was an, ornament to the town. . sir, I hope the ornamentafcßSlM will not be disfigured by the fencing, which must of necessity be the case no matter how fenced if the approaches are left as at. present. To put a fence along the edge of the present batter would make it appear too much like a cattle race, as anyone not interested in road matters can see the filling is six feet or more narrower than the deck space of the bridge. So saye a sorry spectacle of management, or rather " mis-management," 1 would suggest the conference alluded to above, and that the filling be extended in width six or eight feet on either side. Set your fence flush with the bridge wall and slightly widen to the end of filling with a wing to private fence on each side of the road. Also that the road on the eastern side as far as the Pound should be put in a safe state for vehicle traffic, not as it is at present with a perpendicular drop of six inches to two feet at the sides, which would capsize any vehicle, motor or otherwise ' should they by accident be forced over the side. Considering the amount of traffic on this road it is folly to wait for something to happen first. If the present sharp edges were ploughed down, a few loads would be required here and there for filling; also a water-table will be necessary to be ploughed out by the telegraph poles ; say with two teams delivering material, one man levelling same could fill in his spare time throwing out the watertable. This temporary job would make it safe till permanently, completed. Mr Editor, my reason for a conference in connection with the above work is because I do not think it would be a fair proposition to ask the Helensville ratepayers to find this money, but rather if they paid one-fourth of the cost it is all that should be expected, seeing that until recent years it was a County road. This division of costs refers to the earth works on the eastern end, and I take it for granted ratepayers of the Riding would bear the whole cost of the western end. Sir, I should like to ask the question whether it was not false economy to have allowed the approaches to terminate so abruptly instead of carrying them a longer distance, which would have given them an easier grade and prevented the tide from crossing the road. Also, who is responsible for the concrete wings at each end of the bridge not being built at least two or three feet higher, so as to retain any extra filling from falling into the river. To do either of these works now, would cost at the least four times as much as at the first. —I am, etc., ._, , R, NICHOLLS. Parakai, 30-4-17.